PlayStation's latest gamepad is made especially for kids

PlayStation's next step toward console-gaming domination is getting its gamepads in smaller hands.

PlayStation's next step toward console-gaming domination is getting its gamepads in smaller hands. To do that, it has partnered with vaunted accessory-maker Hori on the Mini Wired Gamepad for the PlayStation 4. Sony says that the controller is 40 percent smaller than the standard DualShock 4, and, honestly, a bulk of that size difference probably came from lopping off the DS4's handles. Its 10-foot cables should be long enough to reach most couches, too.

No buttons were sacrificed in the shrinking process, but the Sony blog post makes it sound like even though there is a touchpad button, it won't have the actual touchpad input. "Certain touch pad inputs can be simulated via the left or right sticks," it reads. We've reached out to Sony for more information regarding that.

Moreover, the gamepad lacks its bigger brother's light bar, 3.5mm headset jack, speaker, haptic feedback and motion control. So, while it should be fine for light indie games, or Knack 2 co-op sessions as the blog post suggests, it isn't a 1:1 replica of the DS4 in terms of functionality. It'll be available exclusively in blue for $30 this holiday season -- half the price of the DS4.